Thread by @savndaniel

ON RAHMAN'S PERCEIVED INDECENT DRESSING THAT CAUSED THE AGED LONG PROBLEM OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN AND TERRORISM IN THE NORTH:

A critical examination of the main criminal laws in Nigeria, i.e the Criminal Code and Penal Code, reveals that

there is no section of the law that penalises anyone who puts on clothes seen or perceived to be Indecent. The Penal Code in trying to curb indecency provided in Section 200 that -

“whosoever to the annoyance of others does any obscene or indecent act in a public place shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or both.”

It is clear that the above provision of the Penal Code does not in any way prohibit putting on indecent dresses whatsoever. In the north, the provision of the Kaduna State Penal Code law has a sister provision: section

168 Kaduna State Criminal Law, captioned ‘Obscene or Indecent Acts’ provides;

“whoever to the annoyance of others does any obscene or indecent act by whatever means to the public shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than two

Years or with a fine of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Naira or both”.

The above provision of the law does not in any way make the crime of 'indecent' dressing a personal decision to style people's attire indecent.

By the provision of the Sharia Law which is only applicable in 12 Northern States which are: Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger and Gombe, indecent dressing is frowned at and the punishment for its contravention.

Sharia law is only applicable to Muslims and does NOT apply to Non-Muslims unless such Non-Muslim decides to be guided by the Sharia Law. The various Sharia Courts have jurisdiction ONLY IF THE PERSONS CONCERNED ARE MUSLIMS OR DECIDES TO

BE GOVERNED BY SHARIA LAW AND IF NOT THE LAW DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION. There is no law that specifically criminalises putting on indecent dresses aside from the sharia law in some Northern states which is only applicable to Muslims or other persons who

decides to be governed by Sharia Law. Furthermore, it is unlawful for the police or other security agency to arrest or detain anyone for putting on any cloth of choice as such arrest or detention will be illegal and a breach of the person’s fundamental rights.

The exception of the Sharia Law should always be remembered.

Therefore, the uproar on Rahman's perceived indecent dressing by council of Deputy Allahs, is more of a religious or moral critique than a legal offence.

POSER:
WHAT IS INDECENT ABOUT RAHMAN'S DRESSING AS AN ACTRESS?